[1.] Consider nothing is a fit object for your desires without Jesus
240 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 2.
Christ. The creatures are beneath you. The desire of the soul is like a member of the body out of joint wlien it is fixed upon a wrong object. All thinj^s without Christ are either sin or the creatures. To desire sin was the cause of the first misery ; that is, forbidden fruits. We know what that is by sad experience. As to the creatures, to desire them for themselves is beneath us : it is, as it were, to sit upon the threshold and the door of the gate when we might sit upon the throne, — to make that our crown whicli should be our footstool : Ps. viii. 6, it is said, ' Thou hast put all things under his feet' God made these things to be under our feet ; and, therefore, the church is described, Rev. xii. 1, to have the moon under her feet. All sub- lunary things are beneath the people of God. I should a little digress from the matter in hand, at least vary from my purpose, if I should at large discourse of the uncertainty and frailty of the creatures, and show how the desires may be lost and wasted upon them, which they cannot be upon God ; or should I descant upon the unsuitableness of the creatures, which cannot give true satisfaction to the soul ; but I will only conclude this first rule with this : That sin is not to be de- sired at all, and the creatures only in reference to God and Christ, otherwise, we sin in the desire or enjoyment of them.
[2.] Look upon Jesus Christ alone as the only object upon which thy atfections should be exercised. He hath all the properties in him that a lawful desire looketh to, though the world cannot see it. He is an excellent good, a necessary good, and one that deserveth the best of our desires.
(1.) Consider he is an excellent good. Whatsoever is an attractive of love is to be found in Christ. Oh, display his glorious beauties be- fore the soul ! There is in him greatness, goodness, glory, mercy, peace, comfort, satisfaction : these are the beauties of Christ. Look over all the world and see if there be any that can do you so much good as he is able or willing to do. Cant. v. 10-16, The spouse de- scribeth her beloved as a comely young man, as one of the greatest perfections. It would be too large to go over every particular of that description ; only, in the general, observe that the k5pirit of God useth such expressions as serve to discover outward beauty, to show us that whatever we admire in the creatures is, in a far more eminent degree, to be found in God and Christ. I know not how to be particular in this large field ; only I shall a little single out the name of God to you, as it is said, ' Thy name is as an ointment poured forth ; therefore do the virgins love thee,' Cant. i. 3. And the desires of God's people are always exi)ressed to be towards his name in the scriptures. I shall mention two attributes, and pour out the savour of them, and display the beauty of them, which shine most gloriously in Jesus Christ ; namely, his power and his mercy,
(Ist.) His ])ower and might. Christ is spoken of to'be the desire of the nations, when he gave forth the greatest experiences of his power : Hag. ii. 7, ' I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come.' Who would not desire him that is able to secure hira against all fears, to keep him in the midst of all dangers, and to comfort him in all conditions? If a man would long after any person, he would after him that is able to shake the nations and to secure
ISA. LIII. 2.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 241
him against the common visible fears of mankind. Men run after tilings for a little satisfaction and security, but still this troubleth them ; they must die, and then all their shifts will not serve the turn : Prov. xi. 7, ' When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall })erish.' Then all his desires — wife, children, friends — will not serve the turn, when his cold corpse must be laid in the grave. But now Christ is so powerful, that he is able to secure us against this fear, to comfort us in death, and to raise us when dead.
(2dly.) His mercy is very great. A man's desire is restrained to things many times, which though otherwise allurable, yet he hath no hopes to obtain. Now here you may desire and be welcome, for your suit will be entertained : Ps. cxi. 8, ' He satisfieth the longing soul, and fiileth the hungry soul with goodness.' When the soul openeth itself to God, he fiileth it ; the longing soul is satisfied : Rev. xxi. 6, ' I will give to him that is athirst of the water of life freely.' You need not stand off upon terms or punctilios ; Christ will satisfy your longing freely ; he hath passed his word ; John vi. 37, ' He that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.' They may have their comfort hindered and interrupted in their own thoughts, but he will in no wise cast them out.